Why Does a Pasture-Raised Thanksgiving Turkey Cost So Much?

If you've ever wondered why a pasture-raised Thanksgiving turkey costs more than a supermarket bird, you're not alone. Here at Worth the Wait Farm in Worthington, MA, we raise broad-breasted white turkeys the natural way, and that comes with some extra costs—both for us and for you. But trust us, it's worth every penny.

Let’s break down where that price tag comes from.

The Upfront Investment

First off, we buy our turkeys as poults (baby turkeys) from a hatchery, and they aren’t cheap at $10 each. From there, they spend their first five weeks in a warm electric brooder. The energy alone to keep the brooder running adds about $10 a month to our costs.

Once they’re old enough, we let our turkeys roam free on our pasture. We’re big on keeping things natural, which means we don’t cut their beaks or toes—common practices on big factory farms that help prevent stressed-out birds from hurting each other. Our birds are healthy, happy, and they have plenty of space to roam, which naturally reduces stress.

Feed Costs Keep Rising

Our turkeys eat a lot—nearly a pound of feed a day per bird! With feed costing around 33 cents per pound, those costs add up fast, especially when we offer Non-GMO, Soy-Free feed, which bumps the price to $5.25 per pound of turkey, up from $4.99 just a few years ago.

Bedding and Fencing

Our birds also need clean, dry bedding in the barn for shelter. We use pine shavings, and the cost of bedding has risen significantly. We spend between $8 and $25 a week on that, up from $5 to $20 just a couple of years ago.

Fencing is another sneaky cost. Keeping the turkeys safe on the pasture means we use electric fencing, which requires regular maintenance and replacements. Fencing costs have jumped too, from $50 in 2019 to about $100 a year now.

Processing

Processing is one of the most time-consuming parts of raising turkeys at Worth the Wait Farm. We handle everything right here on the farm—from slaughtering to processing, packaging, and labeling each bird. This takes a lot of hands-on labor and attention to detail to ensure each turkey is handled humanely and prepared to the highest standards. While we don’t send our birds to a slaughterhouse, the time and effort it takes to process them adds a significant cost, reflecting the care that goes into every step of the process.

The Time and Care It Takes

It takes about 20 weeks to raise a turkey from poult to the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece. In that time, we're constantly checking on their health, moving them between the brooder and pasture, cleaning their shelter, and keeping their feed and water fresh. That kind of hands-on care isn’t cheap or easy, but it ensures you get a bird that’s flavorful, humanely raised, and as close to nature as possible.

The Final Price

When you add it all up—the feed, the bedding, the fencing, the processing, and the labor—it’s clear why a pasture-raised turkey costs more. At Worth the Wait Farm, we charge $4.25 per pound for turkeys raised on regular feed, and $5.25 per pound for Non-GMO, Soy-Free feed. A 25-pound turkey will cost anywhere from $100 to $131, depending on the feed option you choose.

But here’s the thing: once you taste the difference, you’ll know it’s worth it. Our customers often say they’ll never go back to store-bought birds after trying one of our pasture-raised turkeys. And we think that’s the best compliment a farmer can get.

So, when you sit down to your Thanksgiving meal this year, know that every bite of your Worth the Wait turkey is a result of months of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to raising food the right way.

And trust us, that taste? It’s worth the wait.